JP2010141938A - Data distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data distribution method capable of efficiently distributing data with less load on a center apparatus, and preventing excessive load on a specific terminal apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of master terminal apparatuses which have received data from the center apparatus share the load to distribute data to other terminal apparatuses (slave terminal apparatuses). The load of a terminal apparatus selected as a master terminal apparatus is large in a single distribution opportunity. On the other hand, when data is regularly distributed, the master terminal apparatuses operate in rotation to equally share the load. Therefore, the loads of the terminal apparatuses can be equalized when averaging over a plurality of distribution opportunities. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data distribution method in which a center device efficiently distributes data to a plurality of terminal devices.

  When the center device distributes data to a plurality of terminal devices, the most common method is a method in which the center sequentially accesses each terminal device and directly transmits the data, or each terminal device individually receives the center. This is a method in which data is downloaded by accessing the device.

  However, the above method has a drawback in that the center device directly transmits data to all the terminal devices, so that the load on the center device is heavy, and the center device cannot be processed especially when the number of terminal devices increases. It was.

  Therefore, if a parent terminal device that manages a group of a plurality of terminal devices is set and data is downloaded to the parent terminal device, the parent terminal device is transferred to another terminal device (child terminal device) in the group. On the other hand, a distributed download method of downloading data has also been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-200656

  However, in this distributed download method, conversely, there arises a problem that the burden on the parent terminal device, which is a terminal device that is not configured to be as robust as the center device, increases. In particular, when downloading large data (for example, song data of karaoke songs, background video, etc.) to a plurality of child terminal devices, they cannot be processed in the on-memory, and what is saved in a storage such as a hard disk each time is stored. Since the data is read and transferred to the child terminal device, the storage continues to operate, and the life of the storage is shortened. For this reason, the terminal device set as the parent terminal device has a problem that the failure frequency is extremely higher than other terminal devices, and the life of the device is shortened.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a data distribution method in which data distribution can be performed efficiently with a small burden on a center device and a burden on a specific terminal device is not excessively increased.

  The present invention is a method for periodically distributing data from a center device to a plurality of terminal devices, wherein a plurality of parent terminal devices are selected from the plurality of terminal devices by sequentially rotating each distribution opportunity. And a sharing list in which each parent terminal device specifies a terminal device in charge of distribution in the center device, the center device transmits data and a sharing list to the plurality of parent terminal devices, and each parent terminal device However, the data received from the center device is transmitted to the terminal devices described in the sharing list.

  In the present invention, a plurality of parent terminal devices that receive data from the center device share the data and distribute the data to other terminal devices (child terminal devices). If only one distribution opportunity is considered, the burden on the terminal device selected as the parent terminal device is large. However, when data is distributed periodically, the parent terminal device is rotated and each terminal device is equally shared. Therefore, the burden on each terminal device can be equalized when viewed through a plurality of distribution opportunities. In this case, if only one parent terminal device is used for one distribution opportunity, the burden on the one parent terminal device becomes extremely large at that time. However, a plurality of terminal devices are connected to the parent terminal device. So that the burden on the parent terminal device can be distributed to some extent even in one distribution opportunity.

  According to the present invention, even if the number of terminal devices is large, the burden on the center device can be reduced and data can be efficiently distributed to all the terminal devices, and the load among a plurality of terminal devices can be evenly distributed. However, the burden on a specific terminal device does not become extremely large.

Configuration diagram of a karaoke music distribution system to which the present invention is applied The figure explaining the relay delivery system which is embodiment of this invention The figure explaining the proxy center system which is embodiment of this invention

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is a distribution system that distributes music data of karaoke songs from a distribution center 1 (see FIG. 1) to a plurality of karaoke apparatuses 5. In this embodiment, a plurality of karaoke apparatuses 5 are installed in the karaoke store 3. The distribution center 1 distributes music data to one or several karaoke devices 5 for each karaoke store 3, and the karaoke device that receives the distribution distributes the karaoke devices to other karaoke devices in the same karaoke store 3. The song data is transferred (proxy delivery).

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a karaoke music distribution system in which the present invention is implemented.

  A distribution center 1 which is a center device is connected to a plurality of karaoke stores 3 via the Internet 2. In each karaoke store 3, a router 4 is connected to the Internet 3, and a plurality of karaoke apparatuses 5 are connected to a LAN configured downstream of the router. This karaoke device 5 corresponds to the terminal device of the present invention.

  Each karaoke apparatus 5 includes a storage such as a hard disk, and stores a plurality of files of karaoke song data and video data for displaying a background video on a monitor when the karaoke song is played. The music data and video data are periodically updated by distribution from the distribution center 1. This update is a process of adding newly released music data or video data (hereinafter referred to as music data or the like) of the newly released music to the currently stored music data and video data, and is performed by so-called differential distribution processing.

  Here, the differential distribution process will be described. The distribution center 1 periodically distributes music data and the like to the karaoke apparatus 5. This distribution is a process of adding music data or video data of a newly released new song as described above, and each karaoke device stores the date and time (last update date and time) when the last distribution of music data or the like was received. is doing. A distribution source of music data or the like (distribution center 1 or a parent terminal described later) inquires of the distribution destination karaoke device about the last update date and time, and the karaoke device receives music data and the like released after the last update date and time. Send to. This process is differential distribution.

  With this differential distribution method, every time new music data or the like is released (every new data is generated), it is not necessary to download all the data, and the amount of communication can be greatly reduced. At the same time, since it is possible to transmit the music data and the like that are traced back according to how far the karaoke device as the delivery destination has been updated, it is possible to reliably deliver data without duplication or omission in each karaoke device.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described differential delivery method, and can naturally be applied to any data delivery.

  In the present invention, when the music data and the like are regularly distributed to the karaoke apparatus 5, the distribution center 1 does not connect to each karaoke apparatus 5 and distribute the music data directly, but each karaoke store. 1 or several karaoke devices 5 are selected as a parent terminal among a plurality of karaoke devices 5 connected to the LAN 3 and the music data is distributed to the parent terminal. A proxy distribution list for instructing a karaoke apparatus (child terminal) that should be responsible for proxy distribution is transmitted. Based on this proxy distribution list, the parent terminal distributes music data and the like to the child terminals (proxy distribution) on behalf of the distribution center 1.

  The proxy delivery method from the parent terminal to the child terminal is performed by the following two methods.

  The first proxy delivery method is the relay method shown in FIG. The relay system will be described below.

  (1) The distribution center 1 transmits a proxy distribution list (see FIG. 2B) in which child terminal karaoke devices managed by the parent terminal are sequentially arranged to the parent terminal karaoke apparatus P.

  (2) The parent terminal distributes music data and the like to the karaoke device (child terminal) C1 described at the top (top) of the proxy distribution list, and the column corresponding to the karaoke device C1 of the proxy distribution list The data (check) indicating that it has already been distributed is written in and transmitted to this karaoke apparatus C1.

  (3) Hereinafter, the karaoke apparatus Ci that is a child terminal distributes music data and the like to Ci + 1 that is a child terminal lower than its own device. Then, the data (check) indicating that the distribution has been completed is written in the column corresponding to the karaoke device Ci + 1 in the proxy distribution list, and is transmitted to the karaoke device Ci + 1. It transmits to a certain karaoke apparatus P. As a result, the parent terminal P determines how far the distribution has progressed, that is, “the karaoke device Ci normally receives the music data etc. from the upper karaoke device Ci-1 and receives the music data etc. as the lower karaoke device Ci. It is possible to always manage “delivered to +1”.

  (4) When the karaoke device Cn at the lowest position in the proxy distribution list receives distribution of music data and the like and receives the proxy distribution list, the karaoke device Cn recognizes that its own device is at the lowest position in the list. Then, the proxy distribution list is transmitted as it is or data indicating the completion of distribution is written to the parent terminal P. Thereby, the parent terminal P can recognize that the distribution of the music data and the like has been normally completed up to the lowest karaoke apparatus Cn in the list.

  The karaoke apparatus P, which is the parent terminal, notifies the distribution center 1 that the proxy distribution has been completed normally, or saves this distribution completion log, and this is the next access from the distribution center 1. Upload logs. Thereby, the distribution center 1 can also grasp that the distribution of music data and the like has been normally completed in this group.

  In the above procedure, each child terminal writes a distributed check and returns a proxy distribution list to the parent terminal P when the distribution of music data and the like is completed to the lower child terminals. When the distribution of music data or the like is received from the karaoke apparatus, a proxy distribution list in which information indicating that the distribution has been normally received may be transmitted to the parent terminal P.

  In this method, the checked proxy distribution list is sequentially transmitted from the child terminals C1 to Cn. If the proxy distribution list is not received even after a predetermined time has elapsed, an error occurs in relay distribution. As a result, relay distribution may be resumed from the child terminal that the parent terminal has stopped. For example, when the checked proxy distribution list is received from the child terminal Cm, but the proxy distribution list cannot be received from the subsequent child terminal, the parent terminal P resumes relay distribution from the child terminal Cm + 1. To do. Thereafter, even if the child terminal Cm is recovered and relay distribution is resumed, since the distribution is confirmed by confirming the last update date and time, the same music data and the like are not transmitted repeatedly.

  In the above embodiment, the distribution center 1 creates the proxy distribution list and transmits it to the parent terminal. However, the distribution center 1 notifies the parent terminal P only of the child terminal group in charge, and the parent terminal. P may arrange the child terminal groups in a predetermined order and create the proxy distribution list independently.

  Further, in the relay distribution method described above, the distribution of the child terminals was in a single line, but even if relay distribution is performed by a “branch method” in which one parent terminal or child terminal distributes music data or the like to a plurality of child terminals. Good. In this case, the proxy distribution list is also created in a branching form such as a tree shape.

  In addition, a plurality of karaoke devices in one karaoke store 3, that is, a plurality of karaoke devices connected to one router 4 are divided into a plurality of groups, and a parent terminal is selected separately for each group. Thus, it may be distributed and distributed by proxy.

  Here, the local IP address in the proxy distribution list of FIG. 2B is an IP address in the in-store LAN, and each karaoke device can be accessed by this address. The terminal ID is ID data assigned to each karaoke device. When accessing the karaoke device, the terminal ID is used to authenticate the other party to confirm whether the karaoke device is correctly connected. be able to.

  Next, the proxy center method, which is the second proxy delivery method, will be described with reference to FIG.

  (1) The distribution center 1 selects a plurality (about 2 to 3) of parent terminals from the plurality of karaoke apparatuses 5 connected to the in-store LAN. This selection is performed based on a rotation table as shown in FIG. This rotation table is a table for selecting a different parent terminal for each periodic distribution (so that the same karaoke device is not repeatedly selected as a parent terminal). In order to select a different karaoke device as a parent terminal sequentially for each distribution opportunity.

  Note that the rotation table in FIG. 3B is a table for selecting three parent terminal devices for each distribution opportunity, and all the terminal devices are selected as parent terminal devices once, in the second order. When selecting the parent terminal device, the table is set so that the combination of the three parent terminal devices is different. That is, in this rotation table, a plurality of rotations are described.

  Note that the number of parent terminals selected for one distribution opportunity is not limited to three.

  (2) The distribution center 1 distributes music data and the like to each parent terminal, and for each parent terminal, a proxy distribution list (sharing list) of karaoke devices (child terminals) that the parent terminal should have jurisdiction over Send.

  (3) Each parent terminal distributes music data and the like to each child terminal described in the proxy distribution list in a uniquely determined order, and data indicating that the distribution has been completed (check) I will write.

  Thereby, the distribution center 1 can confirm how far the distribution has progressed by accessing the parent terminal at any time.

  The karaoke apparatus P, which is the parent terminal, notifies the distribution center 1 that the proxy distribution has been completed normally, or saves this distribution completion log, and this is the next access from the distribution center 1. Upload logs. Thereby, the distribution center 1 can also grasp that the distribution of music data and the like has been normally completed in this group.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Distribution center 2 ... Internet 3 ... Karaoke store 4 ... Router 5 ... Karaoke apparatus P ... Parent terminal (karaoke apparatus)
C ... Child terminal (karaoke device)

Claims (1)

A method of periodically distributing data from a center device to a plurality of terminal devices,
Among the plurality of terminal devices, a plurality of parent terminal devices are selected by rotating sequentially for each distribution opportunity, and a sharing list in which each parent terminal device is in charge of distribution is created in the center device. ,
The center device transmits data and a sharing list to the plurality of parent terminal devices,
A data distribution method in which each parent terminal device transmits data received from a center device to terminal devices described in the sharing list.

Images